EPA examines local septic haulers

MONTROSE — The Environmental Protection Agency has requested records of local septic waste haulers following an audit request from county governments, treatment facilities and haulers.

“This is a rare situation,” EPA pretreatment enforcement coordinator Aaron Urdiales said. “Rarely in any part that we regulate do we have a community of local businessmen such as yourselves asking to be regulated.”

He and EPA bio-solids coordinator Robert Brobst spoke at Montrose County Health and Human Services Thursday morning before a group of interested parties, many of whom submitted the audit requests. The discussion involved enforcement regulations and what records requests entail. Urdiales said the EPA has limited resources to enforce regulations in a six-state region.

“With only six of us in these states, we rely heavily on citizen complaints, on local communities and municipalities calling us — giving us complaints or identified violations — and inspections,” he said.

Inspections are random and often unannounced. They primarily investigate land application sites to ensure compliance with a variety of regulations. The request for haulers’ records requires names and addresses of clients, how much material was pumped and how it was disposed.  

“The hope is that we’ll be able to identify noncompliance, and on top of that it’ll enable us to get more information at the county levels to see how much septage is actually being transferred and hauled around this area,” Urdiales said.

He said the haulers have 45 days to respond and that results likely won’t be complete until springtime.

Haulers who follow regulations desire an audit because those out of compliance make money by not paying for proper disposal. A local hauler recently began a 10-month prison sentence for dumping restaurant grease into a storm sewer leading to navigable U.S. waters. His sentence included a $20,000 fine.

Roto-Rooter owner Kevin Smith recently assembled an association of local septic haulers in favor of better enforcement.

“As a group I think we are interested in increasing professionalism of the industry — public perception, that is. And also the original reason we gathered was to help develop regulations with the county so we take a proactive role in developing regulations,” Smith said.

Montrose County doesn’t have regulations dealing specifically with septage disposal. Commissioner Gary Ellis said he and the other two commissioners are interested in developing such regulations. He said the recent tax increase for public safety could help with hiring a code enforcement officer next year.

Smith said county staff have been supportive and cooperative in working with the hauler’s association “and actually really helped us get organized.”

He said the association is also interested in public education, such as how to maintain an on-site disposal system.

“Pumping a septic tank after a problem has occurred is analogous to changing your oil after your engine has seized,” Smith said.

And it also creates an environmental hazard. Brobst said neglected septic systems can become point sources of nitrate pollution.

“If septic tanks aren’t properly maintained — which means pumped on a regular basis — they are sources of pollution,” Brost said.

The inter-jurisdictional group of city and county officials and staff and regional septic haulers is scheduled to meet again Jan. 17.

Contact Robert Allen via e-mail at roberta@montrosepress.com